THE WILLOW WARBLER. 



OF all the feathered choristers that follow the sun in 

 his northern journey, the little Willow Warbler is my 

 special favourite. His trustfulness, delicate appearance, 

 graceful motions, and unassuming garb, together with 

 his plaintive song and call notes, all give me pleasure, 

 and it is with delight I welcome him in the fresh and 

 vernal month of April. He arrives here sometimes as 

 soon as the first, while at other times he is not seen 

 until the third week in the month ; and, like the Warblers 

 in general, the males make their appearance first, but do 

 not sing until the arrival of their mates. I know not 

 how far naturalists will agree with me with regard to 

 these birds migrating in the night, but here they in- 

 variably appear to do so. You find the Willow Warbler 

 in woods, fields, coppices, plantations, gardens, and 

 pleasure grounds, but very rarely on the wild and 

 barren moor. They frequent as a rule the lower 



